Holding device



March 12; 1946. T. E. MEAD HOLDING DEVICE Filed Nov. 6, 1943 Patented Mar. 12, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOLDING DEVICE Theodore E. Mead, Wilmette, Ill.

Application November 6, 1943, Serial No. 509,185

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a holding device, and deals particularly with a, fixture useful for holding work pieces while mechanical operations are performed on them.

An object of the invention is to provide a device which is adapted to engage and also to disengage a piece quickly and efficiently, and which will hold the piece firmly and solidly. Another object is to provide such a holding device which is easy to operate and which requires a minimum of effort on the part of the operator.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a holding device which will operate in response to air pressure, and which will release the piece also in response to air pressure, or the release of air pressure.

Another important object of the invention is to provide ejecting mechanism compactly arranged and easily operated to dislodge the piece from the holding device when desired.

Yet another object is to provide a holding device of the character mentioned wherein there is provision for cleaning the same during operation so as to maintain the device clear of shavings, for example, during its use. A further object is to provide such a holding device which has means for passing fluid therethrough for cleaning or lubricating purposes.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the specification proceeds.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view in elevation; Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view taken as indicated at line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view showing the bell crank member employed in the ejecting mechanism.

As illustrated, the device includes a casing or housing structure A, clamping structure B for receiving and clamping the piece to be held, actuating mechanism B for operating the clamping structure to bind and release the piece, and ejecting mechanism C for disengaging the piece from the device when desired.

The housing structure A includes a base member Ill having generally cylindrical walls II and top plate l2. This base member Ill houses the ejecting mechanism later to be described in detail.

Mounted on the top plate l2 and secured. thereto by means of the screws l 3 is the housing structure l4 having the walls l5 whose inner surfaces are cylindrical to accommodate the piston of the actuating mechanism. The walls l5 join with the plate 16 from which extends the casing structure I! of generally cylindrical shape having the central cavity l8. Through the side walls of the easing structure [1 are the openings 20 normally closed by the plates 2| secured by the screws 22. The plates 2! may be removed when desired to provide access to the housing when necessary.

At the top of the housing structure I! is mounted a ring member 23 having an opening 24, the wall of which is beveled at 25. This ring member is adapted to receive the clamping structure and to bind this structure about the piece upon operation of the actuating mechanism.

The clamping structure B includes the tubular member 23 having at its upper portion radial slots 21 so as to permit the member to expand or spread at its upper end. In the present embodiment, three slots are provided, but more or less might be provided as desired. At the top end of member 26 is a kind of collar 28 providing the inclined surfaces 28 which correspond with the surface 25 in the ring member 23. Thus provided with slots 27 and the collar portion 28, the upper portion of the member 25 has What may be called jaws which may be pressed together and so clamptightly against whatever is received within this member.

The lower end portion of the member 26 is'coupled with the tubular piston member 29 by the coupler 30. The middle portion of the coupler 30 has openings 30 (see Fig. 2) which permits communication with the interior so that air or fluids can pass from the cavity 18 into the tubular member 26 to clean the same.

This piston member 29extends down through the housing I! through opening 3|, and is attached at its lower end to the piston body 32 which extends laterally and cooperates with the cylindrical walls I 5. At its periphery, the piston body 29 is provided with a leather or flexible material 33 which makes an efiicient seal with the cylinder wall.

To seal the air cylinder so provided against leakage of air around the piston member 29, packing material 34 is provided and'is held in place by the ring 35. Packing material 36 is also provided about the piston member 29 adjacent the cavity l8. This packing material 36 is held in place by the ring 31 and serves to keep oil or liquid from reaching the air cylinder.

Between the piston body 32 and the plate l2 of the base housing member are the springs 38 which serve to maintain the piston normally in extended position, but which will yield to allow the piston to descend to lowered position.

The ejecting mechanism C includes-a plunger 39 which extends axially through the opening 40 of the piston member 29 and has its upper end 4| extending up into the opening 42 of the tubular member 26. This upper end serves as a stop limiting the extent to which a piece to be held may be inserted into member 26.

The lower end portion of plunger 39 has the nut 43, and between this nut and the base plate 12 is the spring 44 which serves to maintain the plunger 39 normally in lowered position.

A bell crank 45 is pivotally mounted on the bracket 46 attached to base Hi. This bell crank has its one arm 41 slotted and engaging the lower end of the plunger 39. The other arm 48 of this bell crank is adapted to be engaged by the piston plunger 49, this plunger being apart of air cylinder structure 53 mounted on the under side of the base plate l2. The cylinder of structure 50 communicates with the nipple i extending to the outside of the housing, and the piston 52 within the cylinder has attached thereto the plunger 49. An adjustable stop 53 is provided in wall [I to limit the travel of arm 41 of the bell crank.

The cylinder or housing structure I4 is provided with an air inlet 54, and the tube 55 leads to any suitable valve and compressed air supply (not shown). Also, the nipple 5| is adapted to be connected by an air line to any suitable valve and compressed air supply (not shown).

Also, the housing structure i1 is provided with an inlet passage 55 (see Fig. 2), which is adapted to be connected to a compressed air line, or alternately to a source of liquid or lubricating fluid.

In the use of the improved device for holding a piece of work or other article, the piece or standard is inserted into the tubular member 26 until it strikes the end 4| of the plunger 39. Then the operator operates an air valve to admit compressed air through the inlet 54, which serves to depress the piston 32, moving the piston downwardly against the pressure of the springs 38. Since the piston member 29 is connected with the clamping member 25, this member is moved downwardly also along with the piston, and the jaws at the top of member 26 are forced inwardly through the engagement between the inclined surfaces 25 and 28*, serving to tighten the jaws about the piece which has been inserted therebetween.

So long as the air pressure is connected with the inlet 54 and pressing the piston downwardly, the jaws remain clamped about the piece and the piece is held firmly and solidly while any desired drilling or other operations are performed on it.

When the piece is no longer desired to be held, the air pressure may be released and the springs 38 then serve to urge the piston 32 upwardly into its normal position, disengaging the jaws of member 26 from the ring member 23.

After the piece has been released from the clamping mechanism as above described, compressed air may be admitted at the nipple 5! which serves to actuate the piston 52 of cylinder 50 so as to extend the plunger 49, pushing arm 48 of bell crank 45 against the stop 53. Upon actuation of the bell crank, the arm 41 of this member bears against the nut 43 on the plunger 33, and so raises this plunger quickly to eject the piece from the tubular member 26.

For maintaining the device clean and free of dust, shavings, etc., air under pressure may be admitted through the passage 56 which causes air to pass out through member 26 and through the slots 21 adjacent the piece being held, preventing dust and small bits of material from gaining access to the housing.

Alternately, a liquid such as oil or other lubricating fluid may be passed into the housing at inlet 56, and such liquid passing out around the piece being held may serve to lubricate the piece for the operations being performed on it.

It will be observed that the device is adapted for very rapid and efficient operation, with small effort on the part of an operator. From the operators standpoint, all that is necessary is to insert the piece to be held and operate the valve to admit air at inlet 54. This serves to hold the piece solidly so long as desired. When this piece is ready, the air pressure at inlet 54 may be released, and this serves to release the grip of the device on the piece. By admitting air pressure to the cylinder 50, the ejecting mechanism operates to kick the piece clear of the holding device.

The passage 'of air through opening 56 and upwardly through member 26 and slots 21 and out through opening 24 serves to keep dirt or foreign materials from getting in through opening 24. Or, if a lubricating fluid is passed through opening 56 and out of the opening 24 adjacent the piece, this ma serve to pass the fluid over the piece being held so that it is lubricated for machining operations or the like performed on the piece.

Though in the foregoing detailed explanation only one embodiment has been described, obviously the invention may take many forms and many changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The description given is intended for explanation only and is not intended to limit the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A holding device comprising structure adapted to receive the piece to be held and provided with jaws for binding said piece, means for tightening said jaws about said piece when said structure is moved in the direction the piece is received therein to bring said jaw into engagement therewith, means actuated by air pressure for moving said structure in said direction to bring said jaws into engagement with said means, and means actuated by air pressure for ejecting said piece from said structure when said piece is not bound through engagement of said jaws with said jawtightening means.

12. .A holding device comprising structure adapted to receive the piece to be held and provided with jaws for binding said piece, means for tightening said jaws about said piece when said structure is moved to bring said jaws into engagement therewith, an air cylinder having a piston connected with said structure, said piston being adapted to move said structure to bring said jaws into engagement with said means when compressed air is admitted to said cylinder, and means for ejecting said piece from said structure, said ejecting means including a plunger through said piston and into said structure.

3. A holding device comprising structure adapted to receive the piece to be held and provided with jaws for binding said piece, mean for tightening said jaws about said piece when said structure is moved to bring said jaws into engagement therewith, an air cylinder having its piston attached to said structure and movable therewith, said piston being adapted when compressed air is admitted to said cylinder to move said jaws into engagement with said tightening means, means for ejecting said piece from said structure, said ejecting means including a plunger extending through said piston and into said structure,- and spring means for maintaining said plunger normally in retracted position.

4. A holding device comprising a tubular structure adapted to receive the piece to be held and provided with jaws for binding the piece, a ring member adapted to tighten said jaws about said piece when said structure is moved to bring said jaws into engagement therewith, an air cylinder provided with a hollow piston which is aligned with and connected to said tubular structure, said piston being adapted to move said structure into position to bring said jaws into engagement with said ring member when air under pressure is admitted to said cylinder, and means for ejecting said piece from said structure, said means including a plunger extending axially through said hollow piston and into said tubular structure, said plunger forming a stop to limit the entrance of said piece into said structure and being also movable to eject said piece from said structure.

5. A holding device comprising a tubular structure adapted to receive the piece to be held and provided with jaw for binding the piece, a ring member adapted to tighten said jaws about said piece when said structure is moved to bring said jaws into engagement therewith, an air cylinder provided with a hollow piston which is aligned with and movable with said structure, said piston being adapted to move said structure into position to bring said jaws into engagement with said ring member when air under pressure is admitted to said cylinder, a plunger within said piston and extending into said tubular structure, and means actuated by air pressure for moving said plunger to extended position to eject said piece from said structure.

6. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said last-mentioned means includes an air cylinder provided with a piston and a bell crank, said bell crank being adapted for actuation by said piston to actuate said plunger.

7. A holding device comprising structure adapted to receive the piece to be held and provided with jaws for binding said piece, means for tightening said jaws about said piece When said structure is moved downwardly to bring said jaws into engagement therewith, an air cylinder having a vertically-extending piston, and a coupler for connecting the upper end of said piston with said structure, said coupler containing a lateral passage therethrough, said passage being adjacent the top of said piston and communicating with the interior of said structure, said passage being adapted to enable cleaning dust from said structure by fluid pressure, said piston being adapted to move said structure downwardly to bring said jaws into engagement with said means when compressed air is admitted to said cylinder.

8.A holding device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said structure is adapted to receive the piece downwardly thereinto and wherein said plunger extends in an upright position with its upper end in said structure.

THEODORE E. MEAD. 

